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BCCI threatens South Africa tour over Haroon Lorgat?

New Delhi: In a development bordering on the absurd, the BCCI has reportedly threatened to pull out of India's tour to South Africa later this year. The bone of contention is the possible appointment of Haroon Lorgat as the CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA).

The BCCI believes that when Lorgat was CEO of the ICC, he acted against the interests of Indian cricket on more than one occasion. Lorgat was a big supporter of the controversial Decision Review System (DRS), and also ruffled feathers in the Indian board by shifting matches out of Kolkata during the 2011 World Cup

Media reports from South Africa suggest the BCCI made it clear to CSA that if Lorgat does land the job they could refuse to tour South Africa. Clearly rattled, three CSA members were in India during the Chennai Test to resolve the issue. One of those, Norman Arendse, a former board president, and currently a director in the South African board, spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN.

"We had a meeting with them [the BCCI] on Saturday in Chennai and the BCCI conveyed their concerns about Lorgat should he be appointed as the CEO. And we told them that we are in talks, and in the process of having to appoint a CEO, and will see that we stick to our process," said Arendse over the phone. "And then, that's where we left the matter, and we took on board their concern. But there's no threat to the tour. In the meeting on Saturday, we re-affirmed the special relationship that South Africa has with India. And we both re-affirmed our commitment to that relationship.

"We told them about the process, that an outside agency has been appointed to shortlist and to interview prospective candidates and to come up with two or three names. And Lorgat is one of those candidates. If and when his name does come up, then, then, we will share those concerns with him. After the meeting that we had on Saturday, there is no doubt that the tour will go on. In fact, we have arranged a meeting with them on April 3 and 4 in Kolkata, to finalise the details of the tour."

India will tour South Africa for a full series starting November 16, per the ICC's FTP.